Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam Trivia 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal law requires phlebotomists to use standard precautions when handling blood specimens?
- HIPAA
- OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard (Correct answer)
- CLIA
- ADA
Correct answer: OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard
OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard mandates the use of standard precautions to protect workers from exposure to infectious materials.
Question 2: What does the term 'antecubital fossa' refer to in phlebotomy?
- The back of the hand
- The bend of the elbow (Correct answer)
- The inner wrist
- The upper arm
Correct answer: The bend of the elbow
The antecubital fossa is the triangular area on the anterior surface of the elbow, the most common site for venipuncture.
Question 3: Which tube additive chelates calcium ions to prevent blood from clotting?
- Sodium fluoride
- Thrombin
- EDTA (Correct answer)
- Lithium heparin
Correct answer: EDTA
EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) chelates calcium, which is essential for the coagulation cascade, preventing clot formation.
Question 4: What is the minimum number of patient identifiers required before collecting a blood specimen?
- One
- Two (Correct answer)
- Three
- Four
Correct answer: Two
The Joint Commission and CLSI require at least two patient identifiers (e.g., name and date of birth) to ensure correct patient identification.
Question 5: Which of the following veins is considered the safest first choice for routine venipuncture?
- Basilic vein
- Cephalic vein
- Median cubital vein (Correct answer)
- Dorsal hand vein
Correct answer: Median cubital vein
The median cubital vein is the preferred first choice because it is large, well-anchored, and less likely to roll or bruise.
Question 6: What color tube cap is used for a prothrombin time (PT/INR) test?
- Red
- Lavender
- Light blue (Correct answer)
- Green
Correct answer: Light blue
The light blue (citrate) tube is used for coagulation studies including PT/INR because it preserves clotting factors.
Question 7: Which professional organization publishes the CLSI standards used in phlebotomy practice?
- American Society for Clinical Pathology
- Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (Correct answer)
- American Medical Association
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Correct answer: Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute
CLSI (Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute) develops voluntary consensus standards and guidelines for laboratory best practices including phlebotomy.
Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam Trivia 2
Which federal law requires phlebotomists to use standard precautions when handling blood specimens?